Permit issued to kill mountain lion killing alpacas in Malibu

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Ranchers in Malibu on Monday have a permit to shoot and kill a mountain lion that is killing alpacas in the area.

Department of Fish and Wildlife officials issued the 10-day permit after four alpacas were found dead on a farm.

The ranchers said the big cat, known as P-45, has been terrorizing their livestock for years, including a petting zoo. Now, ranchers like Wendell Phillips are ready to do whatever it takes to end the menace.

"You have to usually leave one of the animals that's been killed out...you know, from the scent, and you just have to be there when the lion shows up," said Phillips, whose taken aim at P-45 before, when it killed eight of its alpacas.

On Sunday night, four more alpacas that belonged to neighbors were killed, and a game warden went to see the carnage for himself.

"The killing and partial-feeding on one of them was a classic mountain lion kill," said warden M.G. Wall.

With the permit, ranchers are allowed to shoot and kill the mountain lion within a 10-mile radius from where the attacks happened Sunday night.

Phillips said he's willing to use his permit and take the cat out, but said he would rather the National Park Service trap the animal and relocate it.

Officials said relocating P-45 was not an option because big cats are territorial and the mountain lion will likely find its way back.

The National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife will be having a meeting at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills with residents Wednesday at 7 p.m. to talk about protecting their livestock and pets from mountain lions.